Saturday, September 24, 2022

Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur

Rosh Hashanah: The Jewish New Year

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. It is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, and a day of judgment and coronation of G‑d as king.



Rosh Hashanah is the birthday of the universe, the day G‑d created Adam and Eve, and it’s celebrated as the head of the Jewish year. It begins at sundown on the eve of Tishrei 1 and ends after nightfall on Tishrei 2 .

The central observance of Rosh Hashanah is blowing the shofar (ram’s horn) on both mornings of the holiday (except on Shabbat), which is normally done in synagogue as part of the day’s services but may be done elsewhere for those who cannot attend.

Rosh Hashanah feasts traditionally include round challah bread (studded with raisins) and apples dipped in honey, as well as other foods that symbolize our wishes for a sweet year.

Other Rosh Hashanah observances include candle lighting in the evenings and desisting from creative work.

Together with Yom Kippur (which follows 10 days later), it is part of the Yamim Nora'im (Days of Awe, or High Holidays).

Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year—the day on which we are closest to G‑d and to the quintessence of our own souls. It is the Day of Atonement—“For on this day He will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before G‑d” (Leviticus 16:30).




Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year—the day on which we are closest to G‑d and to the quintessence of our own souls. It is the Day of Atonement—“For on this day He will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before G‑d” (Leviticus 16:30).

For nearly twenty-six hours—from several minutes before sunset on 9 Tishrei to after nightfall on 10 Tishrei —we “afflict our souls”: we abstain from food and drink, do not wash or anoint our bodies, do not wear leather footwear, and abstain from marital relations. Instead our time is spent in prayer to G‑d.

Source: Rosh Hashanah - The Jewish New Year from https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4644/jewish/Rosh-Hashanah.htm and 
Yom Kippur - The Day of Atonement from https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4687/jewish/Yom-Kippur.htm Accessed June 4, 2022

Saturday, September 10, 2022

A Liturgy for Friendship

 


From "Liturgies for Hope: Sixty Prayers for the Highs, the Lows, and Everything in Between," by Audrey Elledge; Elizabeth Moore. Courtesy of NetGalley